ASN Soccerpedia

DaMarcus Beasley

• DOB May 24, 1982
• Age 30
• Place of birth Fort Wayne, Indiana
• POSITION Forward
• HEIGHT 5'8"
• WEIGHT 145
• U.S. CAPS 99
• CLUB Puebla (Mexico)
• TWITTER @damarcusbeasley (86K followers)
• ASN 100 Rank 22
• Previous ASN 100 Rank 51
• Youth Experience U-17, U-20

Armed with lightning-quick speed and close-quarter ball-handling skills, DaMarcus Beasley was one of the United States’ biggest stars and most promising talents in the early 2000s. In fact, he was groomed for stardom from a young age. Having started in MLS at age 16, he emerged as one of the breakout stars in the U.S.’s surprise run to the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup. Beasley, alongside Landon Donovan and others, looked poised to push on and represent America in the most prestigious leagues in the world.

Beasley plays primarily as a winger, although he has been used as a fullback at times. His speed is his go-to weapon, and his late runs into the box have led to many goals. These tools also make him a key go-to man to start counterattacks—or finish them. At times he’s also useful through the middle when forced inside, his ball-handling allowing him to dribble past players, draw fouls, and force the tempo. On the downside, he is slight of frame and is easily dispossessed.

Injuries have limited Beasley’s success at times. He spent four years with Chicago Fire, dominating at times, but never finding true consistency. He joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 2004, where he became the first American to play in the Champions League semifinals. Beasley and former coach Bruce Arena clashed during the 2006 World Cup. Arena said, "We got nothing from Beasley." Beasley responded by saying that he was out of position, adding, "It's not my fault I couldn't get forward."

Beasley joined Glasgow Rangers in 2007 and he impressed but saw his playing time limited—again—by injury. It was more of the same when Beasley transferred to Germany’s Hannover 96 in 2010; he barely got on the pitch. Beasley shined in Gold Cup victories in 2002, 2005, and 2007, and in World Cup qualifying under former coach Bob Bradley, but he has made fewer appearances as of late, playing only one game, as a substitute, in the 2010 World Cup against Algeria.

Beasley’s next move caught many off guard. After being deemed surplus to requirements at Hannover, Beasley signed with Puebla in 2011 to resurrect his career in Mexico—the country he’d terrorized for years in CONCACAF play. By all accounts his move to Mexico has been a success—although prior to the August 2012 U.S. win in Estadio Azteca he has failed to make Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad since being called up for a round of friendlies in fall 2011. Nevertheless, if his play at Puebla is any indicator, Beasley still has plenty to offer.—ADAM ELDER

Noteworthy Reads

Gringo Report: Happy Beasley Looks to Extend Puebla Stay (MLSSoccer.com)
Beasley-Arena Rift Gets Even Worse (San Diego Union-Tribune)